Tool for compressing piston rings



Mayv s, 192s.

W muv r. j a e @w l, /z W Z. FT@ s ,R14 G N6 O2 R 4 RMN wuz. EME E11 Tn @ma am@ .Md Rw Rm o F L o o T Patented May 8, 1928.

NUNITI-:D STATES RLPH R. TEETOR, OF HAGERSTOWN, INDIANA, `lASSIGNOR 'IO THE PERFECT CIRCLE PATENT OFFICE. Y

COIPANY, 0l' HAGERSTOWN, INDIANA, AA CORPORATION 0F INDIANA,

TOOL FOR COMPRESSING .PISTON RINGS.

Application Med April 22,

My invention relates to apparatus for compressing Objects and is of particular service for effecting the closure of the gaps, which are formed in piston rings after they have been cast, in order to prepare theml for the finishing of their exterior circumferential f surfaces. I have shown and described an appartus or tool ofvthis class in my U. S'. Patent No. 1,454,350.

The principal objects of my present 1nvention are to improve the construction and operation of the apparatus or tool and more accurately align or center the piston rings.

Another object of my invention is to pro- Jvide a tube having a flexible inner wall provided with longitudinal members for the purpose of accomplishing a more accurate lineal or axial alignment of the piston rings with respect to each other but without in terfering with or impairing the proper cirf cularit or ring-closing adjustment of the indivi ual rings. More specifically I provide a rubber tube subjected to fluid pressure and having imbedded in it longitudinally extending resilient rods, preferably formed of spring steel. Y

A further object of my 'invention is to provide an expansible chamber having one side or wal-l provided with grooves to elfecty a more uniform and rapid distribution of the air .(or' other suitable fluid a ent throughout the chamber when the air 1s a mitted to the chamber. The above and other objects ofmyjinvention will become more apparent from the) followingA description taken in. conjunction with the accompanying drawings.'

Of said drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a tool embodying my invention, Aand shows the ring supporting fixture or arbor and piston rings in place in the compressor, some of the rings being shown in section and others broken away; Fig.' 2 is a cross sectional viewtaken through a portion of the compressoras. on the line 2.-2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a loni gitudinal sectional view taken through a.

portion of the compressor and shows the inner rubber tube partly in section and partly in full and bot-h of the rubber tubes broken awayto disclose the grooves formed in the inner surface of the casing. I l

The device or fixture for carrying the pisj ton rings comprises an arbor 5 having cir- 1928. Serial No. 103,915.

slightlyl reduced portions a ofthe end plates 6 and 7 and the nut 8 is screwed uponl the threaded end of the arbor to move the end plate 7 towards the Vend plate ljust suii-I ciently to clamp the rings in position between the plates, but not so tightly as to prevent the rings from havin imparted to them a partial ring-closingV ajustment in a centering` shell or cylinder such as shown and described in my aforesaid patent. The I action of the centering shell, as explained in my aforesaid patent, is such that the rings are centered on the arbor,V the nut 8 then being fastened. to firmly vclam the rings between the end plates 6 and 7,t e rings being thus retained in their partially contracted condition when the shell is removed. While thus held in assembly, the rings are slipped into the compressor embodyinggmy present invention.

My compressor comprises an outer cylindrical casing or shell 10, preferably formed of metal, a single-walled flexible tube 11, preferably of rubber, end rings or flan 12, secured to the ends of the casing 10 y means of screws 13, and 'an inner exible sleeve lor tube 14` also preferably formed of rubber, and having rods 15 imbedded in its outer surface. The ends of the rubber tube 11 are turnedoutwardly to` form radial flanges 15A which are rmlyclam betweentherings 12 andthe ends of t e shell 10.v Thusthe rubber tube '11 and casing or shell 10 aord an .,airtight compression or expansion chamberybetween them. .An air hose or pipe 16 is connected to a nipple 1 7 integral with the shell 10 and through this air tube air under com ression is admitted t0 the compression cham er under the control of any suitable valve (not shown). The arbor 5 and the centered piston rings thereon 4areslipped into the compressor while the 4- 10E'.

tube 11 is deflated. It will be observed that the portions b of the end plates 6 and are of largest diameter and fit closely within the ends of the rubber sleeve 14 for the pur- 50 this result.

eciY After the rings pose of aiding in properly centering the arbor and rings in the compressor.

The interior cylindrical surface of the shell 10 is provided with a large number ofcircumferential grooves 17 and several communicating longitudinal grooves'18. When air is admitted to the rubber tube, it quickly passes through the different grooves 17 and 18 to effect a quick and equal distribution of the air throughout the expansion chamber.

Should the tube become stuck at any point or portion to the interiml surface of the shell, the air in the adjacent grooves will quickly separate the tube from the shell.

The inner tube 14 is also preferably formed of rubber and is so constructed that .it will self-maintain its circular form and not collapse when the arbor and rings are not in the compressor. The outer cylindrical 20 surface of the tube 14 is provided with usqually-spaced longitudinal grooves 20. in which are ositioned seini-circular rods 15 preferably ormed of spring steel. The rods 15 are shorter than the tube 14, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the ends of the rods do not project over the ortions b of the heads 6 and 7 and hence t ese portions do not intertere with the action ofthe rods 15. The

inner cylindrical surface of the tube 14 is provided with longitudinal grooves 21, oil'- set with respectt'o the grooves 2() so that the rods l-ie between the grooves 21. The grooves 21 are formed to make the tube 14 more flexible and eilicient in operation and also to prevent the formation of wrinkles or .\ridges on the inside of the tube c14 during operation of the device. l f

When the piston rings are 1n place in the compressor, air is admitted to the expansion 40 chamber under more than sufficient pressure to completely close all of the gaps at the joints of thel ring, which were only partially closed to varying extents in the centering shell. The nut 8 is then loosened to permit the rubber tube 14, which is ressed against that when the inner sleeve 14 with the imbedded rods is not employed, the individual rings are properly closed but thatthe rings in some instances are not accurately axially aligned as a whole, so that when the rings Aare finished by turning, in a lathe those not in lineI arenoterfect circular. By usin the rods 15 I obtain a more accurate "linea .alignment of all of the rings so that all o! the rings when finished are circular.

have been properly in suicient degree to secure.

aligned, the nut 8, is tightened to iirmly clamp the rings in their closed condition between the endl lates 6 and 7 the tube 11 is deflated and elle rings and arbor are removed rorn the compressor. They are then placedfin a lathe, the ends of the arbor 5 being suitably formed for mounting between the head and tail stocks of the lathe. The ringsai'e then turned to a uniform external Ydiameter whereafter the rin s'are demounted lroin the supporting ar or. The rings being aligned lineally, it will be seen that each of tlie piston rings is turned the pro er extent throughout its entire exterior sur ace and the finishedv rings are circular and concentric. i

While I have shown in the drawings onl1 the preferred form of embodiment of my invention itJ will be obvious that various changes may be 'made without departure from the spirit ofmy invention. For example, the expansion chamber may be formed of a dou le-walled tube, as shown in my aforesaid patent, in which case. the grooves 17 and 18 would be formed in the interior'surface of the outer wall of the tube. .The tubes 11 and 14 may also be integrally formed together, if desired, thou h I preter 'to forni them separately. T e tubesl may also be only semi-circular, though I believe that tubes extending entirelyaround the piston rings, as shown in the drawings, are more eilicient in accomplishing the most accurate radial and axial alignment of the rings. I claim:

' 1. A compressor comprising a .flexible A wall, subjected to fluid pressure, for contacting the objects to be compressed and ali ed, and elements associated with said wal for aligning said objects lineally.

P 2. A compressor comprising a flexible Wall subjectedto fluid pressure for contacting the objects to be com ressed and aligned, and spring rods imbed ed lin said wall for aligning said objects lineally.

f 3; A compressor for compressing piston rings, comprising a flexible wall, subjected to fluid pressure, for contacting the iston rin and equally s aced longitudinal y exten ing spring r s associatedswith said wall for aligning the piston rings lineally.

4. In a tool'for exerting closing pressure y upon piston-rings, the combination withv mounting means for clamping the piston rings in assembly, a rigid cylinder, a flexible wall' within t e cylinder and forming an expaiisionchamber, and resilient rbds extending longitudinally of the wall and' associated with it for aligning. the .piston rings lineally.

5. In a tool for exerting closingv pressure i upon piston rings, the combination with mounting means for clamping the rings in assembly, a rigid cylinder, a ilexible wall maar within the cylinder and forming an expansion chamber, and spring rods imbedded in the wall for aligning the piston rings lineally.

6. In a' tool for exerting closing pressure upon piston rings, the combination' with mounting means for clamping the rings in assembly, a rigid cylinder, a flexible wall within the cyllnder forming an expansion chamber and having longitudinal grooves in-its inner surface, and spring rods imbedded in the wallffor a'li ing the piston rings lineally, said longitudinal grooves being between the rods. l

7. In-a tool for exerting closing pressure upon piston rin the combination of a r1 d cylinder, a exible tube within the cylin er forming an expansion chamber` a flexible sleeve within said tube, and longitudinally extending rods between the tube and sleeve.

L8. In a too'l upon piston rings, the combination of a rigid cylinder, a flexible tube forming an expansion chamber, a flexible sleeve within ,y

sald tube and resilient rods positioned in grooves in the exterior surface of said sleeve. 9. Ina tool for exerting closing pressure 4 upon piston rings, the `combination of a rigid cylinder, a 'flexible tube forming an Vex ansion chamber, a flexible sleeve wlthin said tube and having longitudinal grooves formed inl its interior surface, and resilient rods sitioned in grooves in the exterior of sai sleeve.

10.In a. tool forexerting closing ressure upon piston'rings, the combination o a lexi.-

,A ble sleeve or tube having equally spaced 1onfor exerting closing pressure' upon piston rings, the combination o a ilexib e sleeve or tube having equally spaced longltudinal grooves in its, exterior surface and longitudinal grooves in its inner surface,

. and resilientrods positioned in said grooves,

formed in one of said surfaces.

12. Ina tool for exerting closing ressure upon piston rings, the combination o a ilexible sleeve or tube having equally spaced longitudinal semi-circular grooves in its outer surface anda like number of intermediate grooves in its inner surface, and semi-cylindrical spring rods located in the grooves in the outer Surface.

13. In a tool for exerting closing ressure 'piston rings, the combination o a flexiupon b e sleeve or 'tube having equally spaced longitudinal grooves' in its exterior surface, resili'ent rods 'tioned in said ves, and means for-ming an` ex ansion c amber and including a flexible tu 14. In a tool for exerting Aclosing ressure upgndpiston rings, the combination o a rigid cylln er having grooves formed in its inner wall, a. flexible single walled tube within the cilinder forming an expansion chamber with y e cylinder.

15. In a tool for exertin closingpressure upon piston the com ination of a narrow ex ansion ciiamber having its inner wa form of flexible material and the chamberside of one of its walls provided with ves.

In testimony whereof, I have su bed -my name.

RALPH R. TEETOR.A

around said' sleeve. 

